Protecting your computer from viruses

With the prevalence of viruses today, it is important for any computer accessing the Internet to have protection against viruses. In addition to safe operating procedures, there are many different programs which can help you to protect your computer. Viruses can come from many different sources, so you must be aware to protect yourself from getting a virus from any source. Remember that virus scanners can only catch the known viruses, so do not rely solely on virus protection software. Viruses may take months before they are discovered and solutions are found.

Some hints for preventing virus infections:

Don'ts

• Never use storage media from an untrustworthy source
• Never download files from a site or person that you do not trust
• Never open an email that looks unusual or suspicious
• Never open an email attachment from a person you do not know
• Never open an email attachment that looks unusual or suspicious

Do's

• Disable preview screens when using email
• Scan storage media (e.g., USB drives) before using them
• Use a real-time virus scanner or frequently check your system with an online virus scanner
• When using a real-time virus scanner, download virus updates every week
• Backup important files often
• Use personal firewall software to prevent unauthorized Internet access to and from your computer
• Use of the RTF (Rich Text Format) file format preserves document content and formatting AND reduces the spread of viruses. The Word .doc format has been a popular target for those creating viruses.